Brookings County, South Dakota Obituary and Death Notice Collection
GenealogyBuff.com - Brookings County, South Dakota Obituary Collection - 56
Posted By: GenealogyBuff.com Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2024, at 10:01 p.m.
Thomas James Hill
Dec. 13, 1987 – Dec. 5, 2016
Volga - Thomas James Hill, 28, of Volga, was lost with his brother, while hunting on Brush Lake, near Arlington, on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. Their boat capsized and both brothers were unable to make it to safety. His brother, Matthew, was found a few hours later. Thomas has not been located, but extensive search efforts have taken place and will continue until he is found and he can be properly laid to rest.
To honor his life, a celebration of his life will be held, along with his brother, Matthew Hill, at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Sioux Valley High School in Volga. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the school, beginning at 1 p.m. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established at BankStar Financial Bank in Volga, Brookings and Elkton, for the family.
Thomas James Hill was born on Dec. 13, 1987, in Brookings, the son of Scott and Pamela (Steffen) Hill. He grew up in Volga and attended school at Sioux Valley High School, graduating in 2006. During high school, he worked at Nelson Farms, a place where he would often help out at over the years. Following graduation, he went to work at Vera Sun in Aurora, then at Poet Bio Refinery in Chancellor, before beginning his career at 3M in Brookings.
Thomas’ life revolved around the outdoors. He loved hunting and fishing. He was a proud hunter and angler. He would often mentor young and inexperienced hunters and fishers, in teaching them all the tricks to the trade. He loved sharing his stories with his friends and family, but would never reveal his “secret spots.”
As much as being in the outdoors, his true happiness was being with his fiancée, Sheena and his son, Maxwell, and eagerly awaiting the arrival of his new baby girl, Ellie Lynn. He deeply loved them as well as his family and friends. He was deeply rooted in his faith in God, and would often state that life is a journey, “I thank God for every day we are alive, all of our answers are in faith, and things work out according to God’s plan.” Grace Free Lutheran Church was his home of faith.
He is survived by his fiancée, Sheena Jennen, of Volga; son, Maxwell, of Volga; his daughter, Ellie Lynn of Volga; his parents, Scott and Pamela Hill, of Volga; his brother, Mitchell Hill of Volga; his paternal grandparents, Marlin and Kathy Hill, of Brookings; maternal grandparents, James and Sharon Steffen, of Volga; his aunt, Cindy “Auntie Pooh” (Jeff) Schmit, of Volga; uncle, Todd (Laura) Hill, of Sioux Falls; two cousins; a host of relatives and many dear friends he always considered family.
Thomas went to his heavenly home with his brother, Matthew Hill, doing what they loved.
Joseph Martin Stuart
Nov. 9, 1932 – Dec. 9, 2016
Joseph Martin Stuart, 84, died at home on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016.
In keeping with Joe’s inclination to procrastinate, a celebration in his honor will be held sometime after the Ides of March, 2017.
He was born in Seminole, Okla., to Archer and Lillian (Lindsey) Stuart.
Joe attended high school in Albuquerque and served in the Navy during the Korean War. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art from UNM under the GI Bill.
He was an accomplished artist and served as museum director and curator at the Roswell Museum and Art Center, U of Oregon Museum of Art, Boise Art Museum, the Salt Lake City Art Center and the South Dakota Art Museum (South Dakota State University) where he was also professor of art history.
He appreciated art in all forms and was a champion of modern and contemporary art-working to create opportunities for regional artists wherever he worked. Joe was a life-long Democrat and skeptic, always questioning authority and rooting for the underdog.
He was a modest man with a dry, cynical sense of humor. He loved playing golf for its beauty and challenge... for him it was more than just a game.
He was a docent at Site Santa Fe, and the Wheelwright Museum and delivered Meals on Wheels for several years.
He is survived by his wife Signe; daughter Lisë (Tim Shinabarger); a grandson; a granddaughter and two great-grandchildren.
His siblings Bob, Bill, Tom and Catherine predeceased him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the South Dakota Art Museum, the Stuart Artist in Residence Program at SDSU, Planned Parenthood, ACLU or a local charity of your choice.
Diana M. Zwieg
July 29, 1939 – Dec. 12, 2016
Arlington - Diana M. Zwieg, 77, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in Arlington.
Memorial services are at 11 a.m. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Visitations is from 10 a.m. until time of service at Eidsness Funeral Home.
Diana was born on July 29, 1939, in Watertown, the daughter of Edwin and Cecilia (Stoltz) Hauff. She received her education in Watertown and was a graduate of the Watertown High School in 1958.
She married Larry Zwieg on March 3, 1967, in Brookings. She was employed from 1964 until 1972 as a secretary at Banner and Associates in Brookings and from 1992 until 2006 as secretary at First Presbyterian Church in Brookings.
She was a member of the Sweet Adeline’s Barber Shop Quartet, the Historical Society and the Summer Arts Festival for many years.
She had a love for classical music and also enjoyed painting, taking photographs, art work, watching her daughters perform throughout the years in band and choir. She has a giving spirit and was always ready to help a friend or family member in need.
Diana is survived by her husband Larry Zwieg of Brookings; two daughters Colleen (Brian) Poindexter of Brookings, Gretchen (Sean) Bresnahan of Caledonia, Minn.; five grandchildren; a brother, John Hauff of Watertown; and two sisters Judy Hauff and Melanie Hauff both of Chicago.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Janet and one brother, Edwin.
Paul Tate
Nov. 17, 1954 – Dec. 12, 2016
Volga - Paul Tate, 62, of Volga, died on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at the Brookings hospital.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Monday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Burial is in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation is from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga. Please note the different locations for the visitations and the funeral.
Paul Tate was born Nov. 17, 1954.
He grew up on a small farm near Sinai.
A farm-related danger that he escaped occurred in his grade school years when he would sneak out to Dad’s gas shed and smoke cigarettes he had gotten from a classmate. And we fondly remember the time he spilled a container of BBs in front of the door. He spent more than an hour lying on the ground picking them up one by one. And then when he finished, he dropped them again and had to repeat the process.
Paul attended Sinai Grade School until the school consolidation when he transferred to Volga and the Sioux Valley School system where he initiated the family tradition of playing the trombone in the high school band. He was also a talented artist and enjoyed art class.
He played football in high school, much to his mother’s dismay as she was sure he would get hurt. Sure enough, she came home one afternoon after football practice to find him limping around the kitchen table. Aha! Just as she had feared! Except in reality he had been barefoot and stubbed his toe on the kitchen table.
Paul graduated from Sioux Valley High School 1973 and went into the hay business with Dad, running the hay stacking aspect of the business. However, it turned out that stacking hay was not a good career choice for a man with hay fever, so he got a job in the Coast to Coast warehouse where he worked for at least 25 years, outlasting Coast to Coast and two other corporate buy-outs. He was then employed at Rainbow Play Systems were he worked until he was forced to retire due to health issues.
Paul was apparently unscathed by his early BB experience and continued to enjoy guns and target shooting throughout his life. He also enjoyed playing slow pitch softball and bowling league until his bad knees convinced him he needed to enjoy something a little less physically demanding.
Paul enjoyed family gatherings and was a walking encyclopedia about family history and pretty much any topic he read about or experienced. He was very generous, always helping family and friends in need. He loved to laugh and was a skilled story teller. Even with his health issues in later life, he always maintained a positive outlook, speaking often of the future when he would build a garage and at least begin restoring his two classic Mustangs.
Paul is survived by his siblings; Rita Tate of Russell, Minn., Susan Tate of Sioux Falls, Margaret “Maggie” Brown, David (Xiomara) Tate, and Donna Tate all of Volga, and several nieces and nephews.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Robert Brown.
James Wiskur
March 31, 1937 – Dec. 16, 2016
Elkton - James F. Wiskur, 79, of Elkton, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, at Riverview Healthcare Community in Flandreau.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Prairie Winds Baptist Church in Elkton. Burial is in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Elkton. Visitation is 5 – 7 p.m. Monday at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Elkton.
Jim was born March 31, 1937, in Moody County to Frank and Evelyn (Suurmeyer) Wiskur. He went to country school No. 46 for eight years and Elkton High School, graduating in 1955. Jim started farming in 1956 and farmed until Dec. 8, 1960, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He went to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for basic training and Fort Knox, Ky., for his advanced training. Jim was with the 34th Armored Division in Munich, Germany, and spent the rest of his tour of duty there. He was honorably discharged Nov. 19, 1962. Jim bought a farm northeast of Elkton in 1963 and farmed there the rest of his life. He was a member of the Glen Stafford American Legion Post No. 198, Elkton.
Jim is survived by two brothers, Robert (Nancy) of Elkton and Richard of Zimmerman, Minn; a sister, Shirley Wiskur Brown pf Elkton; and nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by two brothers, Don “Mike”, Francis “Toots, ” and one nephew, Richard.
Bella Vista, Ark. - Michael Marron died at home in Bella Vista, Ark. on Feb. 17, 2015 and his beloved wife, Beverly Marron followed him on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in Brookings, while residing at Edgewood Vista Memory Care. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
There are no planned services at this time. The family will gather in the spring to reunite Michael and Beverly again at Table Rock Lake, Mo.
Michael, son of Leonard and Anne Marron, was born on Dec. 11, 1938. Beverly, daughter of Clifford and Jennie Hanlon, was born on Oct. 1, 1940. The two grew up in Duluth, Minn., met and married on April 15, 1960. They moved to Sioux Falls to begin raising their family. Michael started his career working as a telephone lineman and later moved into management with Northwestern Bell, and ended his career with the final version of the old Ma Bell, now called US West. Beverly, a life-long Vikings fan, worked at home and later worked in the circulation department at the Argus Leader. Their time in Sioux Falls was marked by being part of the founding members of the Lincoln High School Band Parents Association. Attending LHS marching band events marked some of their happiest moments as parents. In 1984, they relocated to Papillion, Neb., where Mike continued his career and Beverly worked as a teachers aide in an early childhood special education program.
In1992, Mike and Beverly moved to Blue Eye, Mo., to live out their dream of being on the lake and enjoying retirement. After a number of years of lake living, they moved again, this time to Bella Vista, Ark.. After Michael's death in 2014, Beverly moved to Edgewood Memory Care in Brookings, where she died, listening to Christmas carols while under the care of her daughter and the wonderful staff at Edgewood Vista.
Michael and Beverly were active members of the Catholic church in every community they lived in, with Michael active in the Knights of Columbus, and serving in K of C leadership at the Our Lady of the Cove in Kimberling City, Mo..
They are survived by their three children, Matt (Jill) Marron, Tim (Jill) Marron and Michelle (Pat) Powers as well as by Mike's siblings Tom (Carrie) Marron and Mary (Roger) Krinke and were the proud grandparents of 13 grandchildren.
They were preceded in death by siblings Myron Marron and William Hanlon.
Robert Giesen
Dec. 10, 1940 – Dec. 18, 2016
Colman - Robert F. Giesen, Jr., 76, of rural Colman, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Robert has been cremated and the family will have a service the first day of spring 2017. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Robert Fred Giesen, Jr was born on Dec. 10, 1940, in Brookings to Helen Babcock Beavers and Robert Giesen. His maternal grandparents raised him in the Custer area. He married JoAnn Trygstad on Feb. 5, 1960, in Brookings. He worked various jobs until starting as a farm employee for Vernon Christophersen and Vernon’s son James for 30 years. He then worked as a machinist and farm employee.
He was an avid outdoorsman. Robert was a member of the Big Sioux Bowmean Archery Club. Bob was always willing to teach anyone eager to learn about hunting, archery, or fishing. He enjoyed playing cards.
Robert is survived by two daughters, Roberta Giesen (Mike Herrig) of Brookings and Rebecca Draper of San Tan Valley, Ariz.; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; siblings, Gary Giesen of California, Janice (Daryl) Conrad of Jasper, Minn., and Susan Flynn of Atlanta; brothers-in-law, James (Esther) Trygstad of Colman and Lonnie Bayer of Brookings; and several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnn on Jan. 18, 2015, and sister, Sheila.
The family prefers memorial donations be directed to the Brookings Noon Lion's Club in Robert Giesen Jr’s name or charity of your choosing.
Margaret Gibson
Pierre - Margaret Leona (Brady) Gibson, 100, died Friday Dec. 16, 2016, in Pierre.
Funeral services and a celebration of her life are at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Pierre, with Rev. Holzhauser officiating. Burial is at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, Jan. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre.
The legacy of Margaret’s kind, loving spirit will forever be remembered by her three daughters: Carol (Carl) Glander of Brookings, Phyllis (Ed “Cubby”) Tomkiewicz of Pierre and Dolores Gibson, Pierre; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren: and many special friends and relatives. She was preceded in death byher husband, and four brothers: Raymond, Bernard, Thomas, and Lyle.
May she rest in peace. Her family and friends will cherish many precious memories. Memorials may be directed to Countryside Hospice.
